Ryan Fisher

Omar, you have confused your values with those of "society." Freedom of religion, expression, and sovereignty of one's own body and mind are part of what make this country a great place to live. I've read your pieces in the past and can deduce that you consider yourself a conservative, or at least a Republican. Based on that, you should be applauding the fact that Colorado thumbed it's nose at the Federal Government with the recent passage of Amendment 64. Gay marriage is a personal freedom that does not affect you in any way. Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion.

These freedoms are principles that are otherwise championed by Conservative Republicans. Don't like Obamacare? Then it becomes a state's rights issue. Don't like Muslims? It becomes a war on Christianity. Fact is, I have yet to meet a conservative, christian, republican who can explain why any of these freedoms have any negative effect on their lives, other than they just don't like it. And that essentially makes them bigoted hypocrites.

Cindy,
That's my point... and you can check the Chamber's numbers to corroborate my claims. I don't think we need to subsidize the airlines. What we need to do is attract the younger generation, who will convince their parents that this year they need to go to Steamboat, instead of Vail, Breck, Aspen, etc. Build a few more terrain parks, and watch the dollars roll in. The baby boomers that have been coming here are great and we need to keep them too, but the future is fresh legs and knees.

The winter of '10/'11 saw the 2nd most skier visits in Steamboat's history. First was '07/'08 when the economy peaked and everyone had money. A lot of the candidates harped on the lack of marketing last night, but it seems like it's under control if we can pull those numbers in the midst of the current economic climate.

YVB-
What Obama needs to do is not lose Colorado. And the only way he will accomplish that is by soft peddling the MMJ issue here, because a majority of card holders vote Democrat. So maybe if he loses the election there will be federal presence here, but I doubt it. Do you know how many resources it takes to mobilize and coordinate multiple local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies? I doubt we will even see action in California against the 12 dispensaries that were sent letters (out of 1000's, mind you.)

And it was always illegal federally to possess firearms and marijuana; the ATF merely sent letters to retail gun sellers because some of them asked for clarification. We'll see how much the NRA appreciates their members being told they have to give up their gun rights. The banking thing is old news too...there will be a state chartered credit union for MMJ businesses soon. We are at the tipping point folks.

Boat-
The only reason the Feds are in town in San Diego is because California does not have clear state laws governing medical marijuana. Colorado has created rules (HB-1284, HB-1043, SB-109) so that dispensaries can be well within "unambiguous compliance" of state laws.

The IRS has already completed numerous audits of dispensaries in Colorado and California. They have issued guidelines of what is deductible and what is not. Not to mention they helped the CO DOR's MMED screen all the applicants who wanted to open dispensaries last summer.

So, they very well may "get us one way or another," but what do you think will happen when the 26th state passes MMJ legislation?

These are the FACTS. This is not some emotion based piece from Ms. Watts, Ms. Victory, or Mr. Harrington. By the way, where are they now? Chickadee? Nothing to say? LivinLarge? Maynard? Strangely silent...

By the way, in response to your first post, many popular medical treatments are debated in the scientific community every day. Not all doctors believe in the same course of treatments. To paraphrase from Kevin, "Ever heard of a second opinion? Apply here."

Traffic fatalities have reduced in 2009 by 5% and 2010 by 10%. If all these stoned drivers are killing everyone, where is the data?

Medical Marijuana is LEGAL! No matter what happens with the dispensaries in town, it will still be LEGAL to grow, smoke, and possess. Instead of having a few heavily regulated, state licensed, TAX PAYING localities, hundreds of people will have unlicensed, non-tax paying, unregulated LEGAL grows in their residences. And Joel Rae will not be able to do anything about them, because it is CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED.

If Aloha's is the source of the controversy, why is there even discussion from the city council to ban them in Steamboat? This will only EMPOWER Aloha's. Does the irony here resonate with anyone?